• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This pheasant is classified as Vulnerable because it is suspected to be declining rapidly owing to hunting, compounded by extensive and ongoing habitat loss.

Population justification
Suspected of numbering 1,000-10,000 individuals by McGowan and Garson (1995), although this apparently based on little more than conjecture and it is unclear whether the population does in fact number below 10,000 mature individuals given the potentially vast area of forest (totalling more than 260,000 km²) within its range. Consequently, the population is here regarded as unknown.

Trend justification
Suspected of undergoing continuing declines of 30-49% every three three generations (25.5 years; Bird et al. 2020) although data are few. As this species principally occurs in hill forests, it is less at risk from habitat loss than lowland Sundaic Phasianids. Remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) suggest that forest loss in this species' range over the past three generations has been equivalent to 10-15% (depending on the thresholds set). Similarly, Savini et al. (2021) estimated using computational analysis than the area of suitable habitat for this species fell from 178,015 km² to 166,167 km² between 2000 and 2018, equivalent to c. 9-10% over three generations. However, hunting pressure on this species is suspected to be strong. Available habitat is becoming increasingly fragmented (Savini et al. 2021), increasing accessibility of interior forest to hunters. In Indonesia, Savini et al. (2018) estimated the population decline caused by hunting only to be as high as 42% over a previous, lower three-generation period of 15 years. However, their method did not account for reproduction and hunting pressure is suspected of being lower in Malaysian Borneo. While there are no direct data that can be used to estimate a rate of decline, it is suspected that a decline in excess of the threshold of 30% has been occurring over the past three generations and this rate is not likely to diminish in the near future. There is a need for more field data that can be used to estimate the actual rate of decline.

Lophura bulweri is endemic to Borneo, where it is known from Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, Kalimantan, Indonesia and Brunei. Although apparently rather patchily distributed, it was once described as very common in undisturbed parts of interior Borneo. In 1995, it was estimated to number fewer than 10,000 individuals. Despite there being no reason to believe that the species was threatened a decade ago, the paucity of recent records, combined with anecdotal information regarding its habits and alarming current rates of habitat loss, indicate that it may be declining rapidly.

It inhabits primary hill and lower montane forest, from c.300 m up to at least 1,500 m, and at least occasionally down to c.150 m (Eaton et al. 2016).

Hunting (chiefly for food) is now considered the principal threat to this species and the most substantial contributor to its decline (Symes et al. 2018). This is compounded by forest loss, degradation and fragmentation, through large-scale commercial logging, widespread clearance for plantations of rubber and oil-palm (Global Forest Watch 2022). 

Conservation Actions Underway
It is afforded protection under Indonesian law and is a protected species in Sarawak, Malaysia. It has recently been recorded in at least six protected areas including Kayan Mentarang National Park (Rowden 2001a), Bukit Raya National Park (Kalimantan), Gunung Mulu and Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (Sarawak) and the Danum Valley Conservation Area (Sabah).  In total, Savini et al. (2021) estimated it is likely to occur in c.32,000 km² of protected area. Although kept in captivity, breeding success is said to be relatively low (Rowden 2001b)

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct extensive field surveys to assess its distribution, status and ecological requirements (focussing particularly on whether it is nomadic and reliant on masting events). Promote prohibition of hunting by those living or working within logging concessions. Promote the concept of Forest Management Units in Sabah (99-year concessions of great size). Assist forest managers in habitat identification and zoning of concession areas. Support the proposed extension of Bukit Raya National Park, and establishment of further protected areas found to hold populations. Continue to monitor habitat trends using remote sensing data.

Male 77-80 cm, female c.55 cm. Blackish-plumaged pheasant with bushy, gleaming white tail (male). Blue facial skin and wattles, red legs and indistinct bluish spotting to tips of upperpart feathers. Female smaller and darkish rufous-brown in colour with dull bluish facial skin and red legs. Similar spp. Female Crested Fireback L. ignita has tufted crest, prominently white-scaled underparts and pale legs. Voice Territorial call shrill, piercing cry, also utters kak alarm notes and penetrating, rather metallic kook!, kook!

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Davison, G., Rowden, J. & van Balen, B.S.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Bulwer's Pheasant Lophura bulweri. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bulwers-pheasant-lophura-bulweri on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.